Loop fasteners for rods in floral displays



March 8, 1966 w. H. BIINYON 3,239,171

LOOP FASTENERS FOR RODS IN FLORAL DISPLAYS Filed March 9, 1964 INVENTOR. WA]. 75/? H. B/A/YUN HTTORA/EY United States Patent 3,239,171 LOOP FASTENERS FOR RODS IN FLORAL DISPLAYS Walter H. Binyon, 32 Franklin St., Cedar Grove, NJ. Filed Mar. 9, 1964, Ser. No. 350,358 8 Claims. (Cl. 248--27.8)

This invention relates to floral displays of any type or kind, whether in the form of plant life, flowers, etc. More particularly, the invention deals with fasteners arranged on support rods in producing predetermined arrangements of a display, wherein the fasteners are utilized in the support of the plant life being displayed. Still more particularly, the invention deals in a looptype of fastener tensionally engaging a support rod in a manner to provide adjustment of the fastener on the rod While, at the same time, checking rotary movement of the fastener in one direction on the rod.

The novel features of the invention will be best understood from the following description, when taken together With the accompanying drawing, in which certain embodiments of the invention are disclosed and, in which, the separate parts are designated by suitable reference characters in each of the views and, in which:

FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic face view of one of my improved fasteners arranged upon a rod and illustrating a support for one end portion of the rod.

FIG. 2 is a sectional plan of the rod and fastener, as seen in FIG. 1, and indicating, in dotted lines, the normal open position of the spring loop of the fastener, preparatory to movement into tensional engagement with the rod; and

FIG. 3 is a diagrammatic view looking generally in the direction of the arrow 3 of FIG. 1.

In illustrating one adaptation and use of my invention, I have shown at 5 a support rod, usually extending from either the earth of a pot or other earth container or which can be mounted in connection with a support base 6 arranged or positioned in the pot or container. The rod 5 may be of any desired construction, but it is preferred that a readily bendable aluminum rod be employed, so that this rod may be moved into any desired position in arrangement of plant-like members, flowers or the like in creating a predetermined display. I have found that aluminum rods commonly used for riveting suitable for this purpose. In the drawing, 7 represents one of my improved loop fasteners, each fastener comprising an element to which the plant life or flowers can be suitably attached, particularly at the spring loop or arm portion 8 thereof.

In actual practice, a number of the fasteners 7 are arranged longitudinally of the rod, so that attachments can be along the full length of the rod in proper support of the display. As all of the fasteners are of the same construction, only one fastener is shown for illustrative purposes.

At one end of the loop or arm 8 is a rod engaging hook 9; whereas, the other end portion of 8 terminates in a spring portion 10, from which extends a gripper coil 11, the coil 11 terminating in a rod engaging claw 12. The tension of the spring portion is such that the loop is normally spaced in radial position with respect to the gripper coil.

In attachment of the fastener, the gripper coil is first passed around the rod 5 with the claw 12 in an engaging position. Then, the loop 8 is moved into the position shown in dotted lines in FIG. 2, after which, the hook end 9 is moved into engagement with the rod 5, at which time, the fastener is in tensional engagement with the rod 5 and will assume any position upon the rod. This position can be adjusted by movement of the fastener longitudinally of the rod and by rotating the same in the direction of the arrow 13, FIG. 2; whereas, rotation in the direction of the arrow 14 will be checked by engagement of the claw 12 with the surface of the rod.

The fastener is preferably made of any rust-proof material and, when metal is employed, it is preferred that stainless steel be used, although other rust-proof metals can be used where the characteristics of the material forming the fastener will have the spring or tensional properties insuring fixed engagement and positioning of the fastener on the rod 5 for support of the floral display at all times in the arrangement desired. In the use of the term floral display, it is to be understood that this has reference to any type and kind of plant life, including flowers and can be used in connection with natural plant life and flowers, or with artificial representations thereof. In some instances, combinations of the artificial and natural plant life can be utilized.

In merchandising, the rods and the fasteners can be sold separately or in separate containers. On the other hand, assemblages of a number of the fasteners on rods of varying lengths can also be merchandised and packaged. In the latter instance, all that the operator has to do is to adjust the fasteners to the desired positions upon the rods in providing the desired floral support as and where needed longitudinally of the rods above the support, as at 6, which support, in some instances, may simply be the pot or other container in which the rods are positioned.

Still further, in some instances, a complete displaying assemblage can be sold, in which event, a suitably formed support 6 will be provided, in connection with which a predetermined number of rods are attached, so that the entire assemblage can be placed in a pot or other container and the rods adjusted to create the desired display. It is also pointed out, at this time, that the rods may be of different diameters, in which event, the contour of the hooks 9 and claws 12 will be modified to conform with the diameters of the rods employed.

Having fully described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In combination a fastener for floral displays of the character described and an elongated rod, fasteners arranged on said rod for attachment of floral portions therewith, each of said fasteners comprising a spring loop projecting from the rod, a rod engaging hook at one end of the loop, the other end of the fastener having a rod engaging claw, and a rod gripper coil adjacent said claw and joining the loop in a spring portion.

2. The combination as defined in claim 1, wherein the spring portion of the fastener is tensioned to normally support the loop in radially extended position with respect to the gripper coil, whereby said loop is placed under tension in engagement of the hook end of the loop with said rod.

3. The combination as defined in claim 1, wherein engagement of the loop and claw with the rod facilitates longitudinal movement of the fastener on the rod and rotation on the rod in one direction only, and said claw checking rotary movement of the fastener in the opposed direction.

4. The combination as defined in claim 1, wherein said rod comprises a freely bendable material facilitating creation of predetermined displays.

5. The combination as defined in claim 4, wherein said rod is formed of aluminum.

6. The combination as defined in claim 1, wherein the rod employed can be of different diameters, and said hook and claw being shaped to conform to the diameter of the rod.

7. A fastener of the character described comprising an elongated element of rustproof material, end portions of the element being fashioned to form at one end a hook and at the other end a claw, a large loop formed in the element adjacent the hook end thereof, a gripper coil being formed in the element adjacent the claw end thereof, and said loop joining the claw end in a spring portion.

8. A fastener as defined in claim 7, wherein said spring portion is tensioned to normally support the loop in wide spaced radial position with respect to said gripper coil.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 879,047 2/1908 Heubner 4747 Jablons 248167 Dobbins 4744 Lay 4747 Aughtry 24827.8

Makar 21171 CLAUDE A. LE ROY, Primary Examiner.

10 K. I. WINGERT, Assistant Examiner. 

1. IN COMBINATION A FASTENER FOR FLORAL DISPLAYS OF THE CHARACTER DESCRIBED AND AN ELONGATED ROD, FASTENERS ARRANGED ON SAID ROD FOR ATTACHMENT OF FLORAL PORTIONS THEREWITH, EACH OF SAID FASTENERS COMPRISING A SPRING LOOP PROJECTING FROM THE ROD, A ROD ENGAGING HOOK AT ONE END OF THE LOOP, THE OTHER END OF THE FASTENER HAVING A ROD ENGAGING CLAW, AND A ROD GRIPPER COIL ADJACENT SAID CLAW AND JOINING THE LOOP IN A SPRING PORTION. 